Advancement of Cancer Survivorship
Only a few decades ago, the prognosis (outlook) for people facing cancer was not nearly as favorable as it is today. During the 1970s, about 1 of 2 people diagnosed with cancer survived at least 5 years. Now, more than 2 of 3 survive that long. Today there are more than 14 million cancer survivors in the United States alone.
Because more people are surviving cancer, more attention is focused on the quality of life and long-term outcomes of these cancer survivors. Behavioral researchers are working to learn more about the problems survivors face. Some of these problems are medical, such as permanent side effects of treatment, the possibility of second cancers caused by treatment, and the need for long-term treatment and medical follow-up. Other problems are emotional or social challenges, like getting health insurance, discrimination by employers, relationship changes that may result from life-threatening illness, or learning to live with the possibility of cancer coming back.
Cancer was once a word that people were afraid to speak in public, and people rarely admitted to being a cancer survivor. Now, many celebrities and national leaders very openly discuss and share their cancer experiences. The view that cancer cannot be cured and the fears that have historically been attached to the disease are slowly changing.
American Society of Clinical Oncology. Clinical Cancer Advances 2009: Major Research Advances in Cancer Treatment, Prevention and Screening. Accessed at www.cancer.net/patient/ASCO%20Resources/Research%20and%20Meetings/CCA_2009.pdf on June 8, 2012.
American Society of Clinical Oncology. Clinical Cancer Advances 2010: ASCO’s Annual Report on Progress Against Cancer. Accessed at www.cancer.net/patient/Publications%20and%20Resources/Clinical%20Cancer%20Advances/CCA_2010.pdf on June 8, 2012.
American Society of Clinical Oncology. Clinical Cancer Advances 2011: ASCO’s Annual Report on Progress Against Cancer. Accessed at www.cancer.net/patient/Publications%20and%20Resources/Clinical%20Cancer%20Advances/CCA_2011.pdf on June 8, 2012.
American Society of Clinical Oncology. Progress & Timeline. Accessed at www.cancerprogress.net/timeline/major-milestones-against-cancer on June 12, 2014.
CureToday. Timeline: Milestones in Cancer Treatment. Accessed at www.curetoday.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/article.show/id/2/article_id/631 on June 7, 2012.
Devita VT Jr, Rosenberg SA. Two Hundred Years of Cancer Research. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(23):2207-2214.
Last Revised: June 12, 2014
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The History of Cancer
- Understanding What Cancer Is: Ancient Times to Present
- Understanding Cancer Causes: Ancient Times to Present
- History of Cancer Epidemiology: 18th Century to Present
- History of Cancer Screening and Early Detection: 20th Century to Present
- History of Cancer Treatments: Surgery
- History of Cancer Treatments: Hormone therapy
- History of Cancer Treatments: Radiation Therapy
- History of Cancer Treatments: Chemotherapy
- History of Cancer Treatments: Immunotherapy
- History of Cancer Treatments: Targeted Therapy
- Advancement of Cancer Survivorship